Las Crucens seeking motorcycle licenses have few road course options

Instructor resignation leaves few options

LAS CRUCES >> If you want to drive a motorcycle legally you need to pass a road course, but that's not been easy to do recently in Las Cruces.

That's because the certified instructor serving the local New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division office resigned in the past couple months, officials said Tuesday. As MVD works to replace him, would-be motorcycle riders have only one local option: the "Rider's Edge" program offered at Barnett's Las Cruces Harley-Davidson.

Richard Santana, commenting on the Sun-News Facebook page, wrote that the change left him "frustrated" -- partially because MVD officials did not provide him with an explanation at the time, but also because of the increased cost.

When it is available, MVD offices typically don't charge for the road tests.

The more thorough Harley-Davidson course costs $275 before discounts and tax. That four-day program includes a classroom and road portion, including the use of a motorcycle, according to the Barnett's Las Cruces Harley-Davidson website.

Pamela Strobbe, who has taught the "Rider's Edge" course for several years, said it is a "learn-to-ride" class but, she added, it also has value for experienced riders. The program is certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Strobbe said, and sanctioned by Harley-Davidson.

Those who complete the course can take a certificate to MVD to get a motorcycle endorsement on a new license.

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Strobbe planned 16 "Rider's Edge" programs this year, and all of them have been filled to the 11-student capacity. She has noticed in recent months, since MVD stopped providing the road course, that the waiting list for "Rider's Edge" has more than doubled. There are two more "Rider's Edge" programs set for this year.

Alternatives are scant.

Davene Flores, who works in the Hatch MVD office, said Tuesday that the Las Cruces offices had been the only ones in the county facilitating the motorcycle road course, offering it Mondays. Calls to field offices in Sunland Park and White Sands Missile Range were not answered Tuesday.

New Mexicans can get MVD services, including motorcycle road courses, outside their home counties, but that didn't seem to be a viable option Tuesday.

Employees at the Deming field office, about 60 miles from Las Cruces, could not be reached.

The Alamogordo MVD office, which is about 70 miles from Las Cruces, had two open slots remaining for the motorcycle road course Nov. 19 and 20. An employee from that office said the course is free and a new license costs $18.

In Truth or Consequences, which is about 75 miles from Las Cruces, the MVD office does not offer motorcycle road courses, an employee said, but declined further comment, saying she was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Priscilla Mullins, the T or C police chief, said her department had been providing such road tests for citizens there because MVD reorganization left the town without that position. Eventually, Mullins said, the demand overwhelmed her small police force and concerns about liability forced them to stop.

MVD Express, a private company that performs many transactions and services typically done by the New Mexico MVD, does not offer road courses, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

It's not clear when the local MVD offices might be offering the motorcycle road safety courses again. But Paula Acosta, a customer service representative there, said people have been applying for the open position, which will be responsible for conducting the motorcycle road course.